March service changes help RTA address $20M cut in annual revenue

Ohio can no longer collect sales tax on managed health-care costs (MCO), because it does not apply sales tax to similar services paid for by those other than Medicaid.

“This loss of $20 million annually would be devastating to RTA, our customers and our workforce. It represents seven percent of our operating budget, and could mean the elimination of up to 200 jobs,” said RTA General Manager Joe Calabrese.

RTA serves about 44 million customers annually, and invests $800,000 per day to provide services. As a result of this funding loss, RTA needs to reduce its expenses by approximately $55,000 per day by 2019.

“Our goal will always be to provide as much first-class transportation service as possible with the revenues we generate,” Calabrese said. “We are working diligently to develop a plan to either find new revenue sources or reduce expenses – or likely both – in order to have a sustained and balanced budget, as required by law.”

The Board will consider a revised budget in March. RTA is considering other options to balance the budget.

Changes coming March 11

Some routes will be changed, effective Sunday, March 11. RTA plans to decrease the frequency of 15 of the system's 52 bus routes. These changes will help RTA reduce expenses by about $4 million annually.

19, New alignment via Warrensville Center, Emery and Northfield roads to better serve the new Amazon Fulfillment Center at the former Randall Park Mall site, and provide better connections with route 41. The current temporary Downtown alignment of eastbound trips is now permanent. From St. Clair Ave., buses turn left on Ontario instead of W. 3rd.

Real-time information for the new timetables will be available as soon as the changes are effective.A

Feb. 24: Celebrate art, music, fire, fun at Brite Winter event

RTA is the official transportation partner of the ninth annual Brite Winter Festival, an outdoor winter celebration of art, music, fire and fun, from 3 p.m.-midnight on Saturday, Feb. 24. This free event is centered near the intersection of Main Avenue and Elm Street on the Flats West Bank.

Ride the Red Line to the West 25th Street Station from 3 p.m.-midnight. On Saturdays, the last eastbound Red Line train leaves that station at 1:46 a.m., and the last westbound train leaves at 12:47 a.m.

Either way, Brite Winter will provide a free shuttle to take you to the festival site.

More than 15,000 persons attend this event annually. Enjoy more than 30 bands on 2 outdoor stages and several indoor stages. View more than 20 outdoor art displays, keep warm around fire rings and fire barrels, and enjoy the fare from various food trucks.

RTA trolley rides are free with a smile from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on weekends. Trolleys operate on three routes. All trolleys stop in front of Tower City on Public Square, so transfers from the Rapid to trolleys are convenient.

Ride RTA to skate at 2 area ice rinks

February is your final month to enjoy skating at two area outdoor ice rinks. Each rink closes around March 1.

Upgrade track on the Red Line, between the West 117th Street and West Park stations, for $5.3 million. This will help eliminate “slow zones,” and improve track safety at normal speeds for rail cars.

Upgrade two key tracks at Tower City for $15 million. Track 7 will be used during this project.

Begin major behind-the-scenes projects to improve radio communications for $11.6 million, improve three electrical substations for more than $6 million, and upgrade a vital fiber optic communications system for $5.9 million.